Portglenone Forest and Fisherman’s Walk

DATE: 19 May 2023.

WALK – 4.5 miles.

LEADER: Robert McDowell, Phone No 028 93373084 (land line/answering m/c)

07711 706022 (mobile)

MEETING POINT/TIME: Car Park in Portglenone Forest at 10.30 am.

BY CAR: Note – it is not possible to do this outing by public transport as the train/bus connections are not compatible with our timings. There is a charge of £4 per car for parking in Portglenone Forest.

Portglenone Forest is about 40 miles from Belfast City Centre, and is 10 miles west of Ballymena. Directions are as follows:

Take M2 motorway following signs to Ballymena or, if preferred, take the A36 from Larne to Ballymena. At the Larne Road roundabout in Ballymena (the second roundabout heading north if you are approaching from the M2), drive towards Ballymena on the dual carriageway and, at the fourth roundabout, take the road to Galgorm/Gracehill/Ahoghill/Portglenone/County Hall – the A42. The distance from the Larne Road roundabout in Ballymena to the entrance to Portglenone Forest is 10 miles. On approaching Portglenone, the road divides with directions to Randalstown on the left and Portglenone on the right. The Portglenone road runs alongside the stone wall of the forest. The forest entrance is signposted immediately on the left before entering Portglenone village.

THE FOREST WALK

The forest walk is 1.25 miles long and is mostly flat with earth tracks – if the weather has been wet, it may be muddy in parts. We would hope to see the bluebells at their best.

We will leave the forest by 11.30 am, drive one mile through Portglenone village and park in the car park at The Wild Duck pub. The car park entrance is on the right hand side immediately after Gortgole Road. The pub is situated on the County Antrim side of the River Bann just before you cross the bridge to the County (London)derry side. We will have lunch there after we have completed the second part of our walk.

THE RIVER WALK

The Fisherman’s Walk along the River Bann is a loop trail on the County (London)derry side of the River Bann. It is flat and well surfaced and is 3.25 miles in length. The walk is mostly alongside the river with a short stretch through fields.

LUNCH:

After the walk, we will have lunch at around 1.30 pm in The Wild Duck.

TOILETS:

There are toilets in Portglenone Forest and at The Wild Duck. There are no toilets along the Fisherman’s Walk.

Please note that there is a change of £4 per car for parking in Portglenone Forest. If anyone requires a lift, I have two free seats in my car. I can pick up in the Whitehead/Carrickfergus area, by arrangement.